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I've had this hatred for the way of thinking that America and everything in it are superior to anything and everything else in the world. However, I've never really had a specific term to call it. As I was reading the other day, I came across an article that gave the concept a name: American exceptionalism.

American exceptionalism is essentially the thought that the place that America holds in the world is a special one.

Growing up in America, I was able to experience American exceptionalism up close. Of course, there was the daily Pledge Of Allegiance, the national anthem being played at every baseball game, the annual fireworks on July 4. Of course, these don't necessarily promote the ideal that America is special, but that ideal popped up in the oddest of places: my Christian school. It's for this reason that I refer to it as an American school: Maranatha American Center. The school found it nice to have an annual theme. Somehow, the theme would be twisted one way or another to become a patriotic soapbox; Remembering Our Christian Heritage had nothing to do with Christian heritage but rather with American history. The school hosts a Girl-Scout knockoff known as The American Heritage Girls. The history books describe the British as a godly people who spread the Bible throughout the world. However, the perspective of the British is balanced to the other extreme when the book deals with the chapter on the American Revolution.

It wasn't to hard going to a school like that while still retaining my logic. As the student body president, it was my job to lead the school in reciting the pledge and praying for the nation every day over the intercom. I would hand the handset to the vice president when the pledge part came. As far as the prayer, I began it with a conventional “bless us today, Lord” prayer. I started to receive memos asking me to pray for the nation, the president and the soldiers in Iraq. Not wanting to share their devotion for the American ideal, I used terms such as community and civil servants in my prayers. Then, the memo was changed to state that I needed to “specifically” pray for the United States Of America. That was another job that I just handed over to my trusty vice president. Then, there was the 9/11 memorial service at the school. The school recommended students to wear red, white and blue for the ceremony. Again, not wanting to share the school's enthusiasm for the American ideal, I choose not to do that. However, the irony of the situation was that I actually did dress in red and blue that day (which would have been typical). I realised this on the ride to school in my red Subaru Loyale. I considered turning around and changing my clothes. However, I didn't feel the need to go out of my way to do so. I now wish that I did. My colours were taken for an expression of patriotism, and I was selected to to some sort of deal at the assembly that afternoon.

I can't say that my school was the only influence of American exceptionalism in my life. I got it occasionally from my church. I got it occasionally from my family. I sometimes hear my father rant about our nation's dependence on foreign (Arab) petroleum. He states that he doesn't want his money being funnelled into the hands of terrorists. I see oil independence in different terms. I would like to see the world change to an energy resource that is renewable, cheaper and cleaner for the environment. I tend to see my father's views as racially stereotypical: all Arabs are terrorists.

Christians often see America as “God's Country”. This is the very ideal that I wish to decimate. Yes, God might have had a plan for America, but couldn't that also be said of the other 192 countries on the earth? I find it queer that the U.S. Constitution Party advocates that the nations laws have a root in the Holy Bible. I can dispel this thought with ease:

• No American will deny that the country was formed from a revolt against the ruling authority of the time: the British. The Bible actually states in Romans 13:1-7 that as Christians, we are to obey the authority that's been placed over us. (If you don't agree with that, you either don't have knowledge in the Bible or American history. If you're about to say that I didn't take into account the historical context of the situation, you're right; I haven't because I don't need to. If you are about to say that I apparently haven't read the Declaration Of Independence, you're wrong; I have.)
• Even an institution with its head so far up Uncle Sam's butt while lighting off fireworks after eating hot dogs and apple pie at a baseball game such as Maranatha American Center will admit that the nation is horribly evil enough that it should never be allowed to educate its children.
• Christians which argue that the Constitution is a superior idea have trouble explaining why something like the Thirteenth Amendment would have ever been necessary.
• People who believe Matthew 7:13-14 when it says that only a few people find truth sometimes also put their faith in a form of government called democracy that gives power to the many people who do not find truth.
• If goes without noting that the concept of American exceptionalism not only goes against biblical principles but also against the American ideal of all men being created equal.

If you hold a contrary viewpoint, change it. If you don't and you feel the need to send me a nasty e-mail or a polite e-mail, sorry. I don't list my e-mail address here because I have experienced the pain of spambots looking for e-mail address on sites and then sending loads of spam to me. It has nothing to do with my not wanting to talk to you. I would actually appreciate it if someone sent me a message. If you have something that you feel you need to say, type it up. I might put a contact form up here in the future.

Visit my site again when the next topic I discuss will be English-language exceptionalism.